ling over
from beside the tree against which he was sitting. That something
was the rifle the boys had taken from the prisoner.

Withem picked up the gun with the purpose of replacing it. He was
just standing it against the tree when suddenly he stopped, bringing
the gun around in front of him where he could get a better view of it.

The Pony Rider Boys were regarding him questioningly, Tad almost
suspiciously. Chunky was wondering if their visitor was going to
shoot. The fat boy was ready to run at the first sign of trouble.
He had stopped enough bullets for one day. As for the prisoner, his
bloodshot eyes were taking in every movement of the man Withem.

"You seem to be much interested," suggested Tad.

Withem flashed a keen, searching look into Butler's face.

"I am."

"Why that's-----" began Walter, then subsided at a warning look from Tad.

"Pardon me, but will you be good enough to tell me where you got
this rifle? I have good and sufficient reasons for asking the
question," said Withem almost sternly.

"We took it from a man who had set out to shoot us up, sir," replied
Butler.

"Tried to shoot you up? When? Where?" demanded the visitor with a
trace of excitement in his tone.

"This afternoon and to-night. Stacy Brown's cheek bears evidence of
the fellow's marksmanship. It seems the man took us to be
officers---Rangers, he said."

"Then you---you talked with him?"

"We did," answered Tad with a twinkle in his eyes. "In fact we held
quite a lengthy conversation with the gentleman."

"Explain what you are getting at." Withem was deeply interested in the
scant information that had been given to him. They saw that he was
containing himself with difficulty.

"Tell, Mr. Withem. Don't beat about the bush," advised the professor.

"Yes; tell me what became of the fellow who shot you up," urged the
visitor.

"What became of him, sir?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Why we caught and made him prisoner."

"What!"

"Yes, sir, and we have him now," smiled Tad Butler.

"You've got him now? Where is he?" roared the visitor springing to
his feet, permitting the captured weapon to fall to the ground.

"He is over there in the bushes," said Tad. "However, I think you
had better wait until I get over there before you pay him a visit.
I have a sort of proprietary interest in that fellow and I don't
propose to have any monkey business. He nearly killed Professor
Zepplin, bound though he is. Wait one mo